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LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation

The LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation landed here in Ireland before you could even get your hands on it anywhere else in Europe. I was lucky enough to go to the launch of it here in Dublin, so I got to bring a bottle of it home to try out.

According to the brand, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation gives a ‘suede like finish to the skin’. ‘Has buildable coverage for both day and night’. And is a ‘paraben free formula’.

I have the shade Natural.

Looking at the shades at the event, Ivory was too light and the other shades after that were a bit too yellow for my skin. Natural is a bit too dark, but it was the most suited out of the lighter colours. We have 14 shades to choose from here in Ireland.

It comes in a glass bottle and have a pump, that alone impresses me, I won’t lie 🙂

On me, the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation definitely has a more medium to full coverage. It’s not super thick though like some more full coverage foundations can be. The formula definitely does dry down to a suede like finish as the brand suggests. So although it’s more matte, it’s not gonna crack if you smile matte 🙂

I have oily skin. I know I say it constantly, but especially for foundation reviews it’s really important to note. Generally, I use a more silicone heavy primer, as I find they are the ones that work best for my skin type. I actually used the LA Girl one here which I really like.

I use a synthetic kabuki brush to apply it and again that works well for me too. The formula is pretty pigmented so you really have to work it into the skin, so a more dense brush makes things easier. I find the formula can cling to more drier skinned areas so that is something to note. That’s why I think the more silicone heavy primers work better with it. It gives it a bit more of a slippy base. Once I use one though it glides over enlarged pores and doesn’t sit in fine lines either. I don’t apply foundation on or around my eyes.

On me, the coverage is medium, but I can amp it up to more full where I want it. It covers redness and slight pigmentation. My darker freckles come through but I am completely ok with that. I love that the finish, although matte, has a satin feel and look to it. It’s not just completely flat. I think it photographs really well too. It lasts well on my skin once I prime and lightly powder. I can get 6-8 hours out of it, with minimal shine or breakdown. It honestly competes with my very favourite L’Oréal Infallible 24 HR Matte in that department!

Overall, I am a big fan of the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation. It has made it’s way into my everyday foundation rotation. Yes I have one of those 🙂 You can find it now in store from LA Girl stockists. Online from TRNDbeauty, and Beauty Bay. Have you picked it up yet?

xxx

PR SAMPLE

March 23, 2018/by Gem

Bargain Buying, Makeup

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation

I picked up the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation after seeing so many good things about it online.

And as someone with an oily skin type I thought I would be the perfect candidate to give it a test drive 🙂

The Catrice HD Liquid Coverage foundation (according to Catrice) is meant to be: ‘Second Skin. The HD Liquid Coverage Foundation offers a high but natural-looking coverage, while feeling extremely lightweight – just like a second skin. Whilst providing a smooth and even complexion, the ultra-liquid texture is extremely high performing and long lasting. It covers imperfections up to 24 Hours and mattifies the skin. The extremely high definition finish is sure to make the skin beautifully even and camera ready.’

It comes in four shades which isn’t really alot in my opinion. I am in the lightest shade they do 010 ‘Light Beige’ and it is a really good match for my Mac NC20 skin tone. If you are lighter than me though or have a more medium to deep skin tone, you are not covered in the shade spectrum at all.

The product itself comes in a glass bottle with a pipette lid. I understand why they give you the pipette. The foundation is quite runny, I think a pump would have sufficed though. But sure that is just personal preference :). I don’t tend to use the dropper, I just use it as more of a stick to swipe the product onto my hand…or face. I don’t recommend that though, it is not sanitary. 😛

A little goes a long way with this foundation. It has really decent coverage without looking too caked onto the skin. You can build it up or sheer it out depending on how much you apply. It has a scent that reminds me of baby powder which I enjoy.

It does have a matte finish, but not so matte that your skin feels dry or uncomfortable. But for me, with more oily skin, I do prefer the finish I get applying it with a dampened sponge. It gives me more control over the product and means I can build it up to my liking. The finish with a brush is a little bit too matte for me. Ironic I know, but it’s just personal preference 🙂 It also dries really quickly so I feel you get a little more play time using a wet sponge.

Here is my skin with just primer on it:

Here it is with one layer of the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation applied with a Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge (which I have a review of here).

Then, with another layer of foundation applied in the same way:

Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation review

You can definitely see a difference in the before and after. The redness is gone and my skin is definitely looking smoother and more uniform in colour.

So, I really like the coverage, I like the finish (with a sponge) how about the longevity?

It claims to be 24 hours, but sure don’t they all. None of us really wear our makeup that long so we will never really know. On my skin personally, after powdering, it doesn’t last as long as other foundations I use or have used in the past and liked do. It doesn’t oxidise ,but I definitely see shine at around the third hour mark. I can handle a little bit of shine coming through, but this is usually shine I have to tend too. However, I am particularly oily, especially around my t-zone so I am an extreme case. If you have more combination skin, I don’t think it will be as bad.

The Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation is in all decent Catrice retailers now, including Penneys. I paid €7.90 for it in a local chemist and Inish Pharmacy stock it online here if fancy trying it for yourself.

Let me know your thought. Have you tried it?

xxx

November 9, 2016/2 Comments/by Gem

Makeup, Youtube Video

Spring Makeup Get Ready With Me

So many of you told me you love watching Get Ready With Me style videos. I love watching them too (not my own though if I’m being honest ha) So here’s a Spring Makeup one, where I am basically applying a face of makeup that I would wear for a Spring day/early evening. Myself and himself were off for some Friday eats this day so I thought it would be a appropriate because I was actually doing my makeup to go somewhere, not just for the sake of filming 🙂

This is more of a talk through style video, which I still haven’t completely mastered, words still elude me 🙂 But I thought I would give it a whirl and sure don’t they say practice makes perfect, right?

I used a mixture of more affordable and more high end makeup which is a true representation of my normal makeup routine. I like to mix it up 🙂

So the products I used (including skincare) are:

La Roche Posay Serozince- Full review here

Vichy Normaderm Beautifying Anti Blemish Care Moisturiser- Full review here

thisworks Light Time Open Eyes Eye Cream

Essence Prettifying Lip Oil

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer

Image Skincare I Conceal Flawless Foundation

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Pencil

HD Brows Kit

Billion Dollar Brows Brow Gel

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Essence 2 in 1 Shadow & Liner Pencil in 06 She’s Got The Mauve

Lorac Pro Palette

By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon

Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in Rich Brown

YSL Volume Effect Faux Cils Waterproof Mascara- Full review here

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer- Full review here

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Mac Full Coverage Foundation (as concealer)

Nars Laguna Bronzer

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in medium- Full review here

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (all three 🙂 )

Ben Nye Cameo Powder- Full review here

theBalm MaryLou-Manizer- Full review here

Rimmel Exaggerate in Addiction

L’Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist- Full Review here

So there you have it all the products I used in my Spring Makeup Get Ready With Me. I would love to know what you think and be sure to tell me your favourite types of beauty videos to watch.

Thanks for watching (and reading :))

Gemma

xxx

April 27, 2016/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tutorial, Youtube Video

Get Ready With Me

Here’s my first ever Youtube video! It’s a speeded through Get Ready With Me. I love zoning out and watching these, and on the plus side it meant less talking for me 🙂 It’s not perfect, but sure neither am I.

Thanks so much for watching and if you like it please be sure to subscribe here. That would make my day…my year in fact, can you tell this is a big step for me? 🙂

There’s a list of all the products I used in the info box of the video too, so if you see something you like they’re all listed in order pretty much.

Let me know what you think and also what videos you like to watch yourself, I am going try create one a week on my channel, but I will also do an accompanying blogpost with any extra details and of course a bit of waffle 🙂

Gemma

xxx

February 21, 2016/1 Comment/by Gem

Makeup, Makeup Tools

What’s In My Holiday Makeup Bag

I already delved into all the skincare goodies I’m bringing for our Christmas trip away here I thought it was only natural to show what will make it into my holiday makeup bag. I say a bag, lets be honest I’m bringing a couple of bags I’m not gonna lie 🙂

My makeup bag is definitely overflowing, but as I said in skincare post I like to be prepared!

First up is eye products.

I’m bringing 3 palettes, excessive I know, don’t judge, one of the zpalettes does contain my Inglot blushes though and a yellow under eye setting powder so it’s kind of ok, right? 🙂

I’m bringing the new Urban Decay Gwen Palette which I have swatches of here I bloomin’ love this palette and don’t want to be without. Also some Makeup Geek shadows in a zpalette and then the palette of a few Inglot shadows and some blushes.

Eye primer is essential in my world so I have a mini Urban Decay Primer Potion being added to my makeup bag. Then, in case I’m feeling posh I’m going to pack the Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Bette, I have a full review of this here. Rather than a black gel liner I have been loving using a dark grey one at the minute so I’m bringing my Inglot matte gel liner in 78. Then two kohl pencils. A grey L’Oreal one and a brown one from Rimmel.

The rest of my eye goodies consist of lashes, my fave individuals from Penneys, a pair of Amazing Shine lashes that I love, you can now buy these in Mr Price which is really handy. Then some Duo glue to apply them, an eyelash curler from Shu Uemura and finally some Catrice Glamour Doll Waterproof mascara, I have a full review of this here I love it 🙂

For the face, of course I am going to bring a few options because I am very fickle, and like to change my mind…alot. Also I think you need day time options and night time options too.

The Botanice Radiance Balm is coming. I have a review of this here The primer I have been using for the last while is the Wet n Wild Coverall. I really like it for my oily skin. I have the Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in a shade darker in case I get a little bit of colour, I can mix it with my tried and tested Rimmel Lasting Finish Nude foundation (review here) and a tester of the Makeup For Ever Ultra HD which I really like too. I’m also bringing the Benefit Porefessional License To Blot which is such a weird product. It’s a cream blotting stick and it bloody works!

My concealer choices for the week are my beloved Mac Full Coverage foundation. I love using this as a concealer. Then, my favourite under eye concealers of the moment (again another full review here 🙂 The Flormar Perfect Coverage and the Catrice Liquid Camouflage.

Powders consist of four faves…yep four I have problems ha! I have Nars Laguna in this really cool palette (it’s called Tahiti) and it comes with a mini Ita brush! Then the Chanel Vitalumiere Powder Foundation, sorry for dropping all of the links but I reviewed this too . the cult classic Champagne Pop from Becca is coming, I have this reviewed too here .The last one on the right then is to bring with me for touch ups, it’s the Mac Studio Fix Powder.

For contouring (and cream highlighting) I have a couple of old reliables. The Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium (yep review here 🙂 and the Smashbox contour and highlight sticks (demo here 🙂

Brow products consist of the Soap & Glory Archery Pencil, then three Billion Dollar Brow products, you can buy these from Boots. I have their brow brush, brow powder and brow gel.

I have a full colour spectrum of lip choices to choose from going into my makeup bag. A red from Tom Ford called Cherry Lush, a Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Ping Pong, Essence liquid lipstick in Show Off (review here) and then one of the Rimmel The Only One Lipsticks in Naughty Nude (I have a load of these swatched here) A couple of lip liners join the crew too. Rimmel Eastend Snob and Mac Whirl.

To apply all the slap some brushes are essential, right? I have the Nima Brush Girls On Tour travel set, I’m so excited to use these beauties, you can see them up closer here. I have a mini Mac 217, a random mini flat Nars brush and a big Powder n Pout P230 which I have yet to try so the hollier will be a good test. I think these will keep me going for the week, right?

That’s all the makeup that will make it into my suitcase. I’m definitely an overpacker I know, a couple of makeup bags will be needed.

If you want to have a nose at what I get up to, be sure to follow me on Snapchat. I love snapping. My username over their is ‘Beautynook’.

As always thank you so so much for reading 🙂

xxx

December 21, 2015/by Gem

Monthly Favourites

Gem’s November Faves

It is officially the countdown to Christmas, we can be excited and buy presents and sing Christmas songs and it is completely tolerated. Yay! Soooo… it’s the start of December, November has been and gone so quick may I add?!

This means November faves time on Chatterbox. Keep reading to see my instalment 🙂

First up I have a double lip product fave.

A lip liner and lipstick combo to be exact. Whirl lip liner by Mac made infamous by one Kylie Jenner and Nars Lipstick in Joyous Red, that is not red, it’s more of an orange brown colour. I think it looks like Autumn in a lipstick pretty much.

I have been wearing these two lovelies together a whole lot in the month of November. I love the 90’s brown lip shade revival so this is my nod to it.

I have a hat love next for this month.

This was bought for me by my kind boyfriend on a whim in River Island in the men’s section. I like to try on all of the hats in all of the shops (it can get annoying). I tried this on while we were waiting in the queue to buy himself some shoes, and it just became mine 🙂 I love all of the different colours going through it and it is lovely and soft and snuggly, perfect for this time of year. It was €17.50 not the cheapest of bobble hats I know!

The Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel has been my face wash obsession in November.

As beauty bloggers we are very fortunate to get alot of products for consideration. We received this product in a goody bag and had heard alot of good things about it so I literally used it the day I got it. It’s a gel wash that you apply to the face firstly on it’s own, then you add some water to make it more foamy, rub it in and then rinse it off. It gets all of your makeup off, waterproof included, without having to scrub your face and your eyes. It’s full of lovely natural ingredients including pumpkin enzyme that is meant to dissolve dead skin cells and really clean your pores. My other face cleansers have been gathering dust in the month of November, this has been all I have used.

More skincare for me this month. I got this in the October Chic Treat Club Box.

It is the Yonka Invigorating Mist, Dry Skin Toner. It is a lovely spray facial toner that smells divine, herbally and flowery all at the same time. I love using it in the evening time, it’s feels lovely on the skin, dries in really quickly and feels nice and hydrating. The smell is also really relaxing. The aerosol spray makes it so handy too, no wasting of the product.

This is a sample size, it doesn’t come this small promise 🙂

The Smashbox Photo Finish Pore Minimizing primer has definitely been my primer of the month. I’ve used nothing else, this sample has lasted me well hasn’t it? This, for me is so similar to Benefit’s Porefessional which I love. As you can see it is nearly skin coloured but blends in, so you cannot see it. It has a velvet texture, that makes your skin feel lovely and soft as well as blurring out your pores, which for me is so important in a primer. It’s not drying but it does help keep the shine at bay throughout the day. It will kill me to pay €35 for it when my mini runs out but I think I will invest as it is such a lovely product.

My last favourite is something I’ve had for ages and just stopped using.

We have here the HD Brow Kit.

I went to Preen in Dame Street in November and got my brows overhauled by the lovely Siobhan in there, she’s literally a brow wizard :). When it came to filling them in myself then I needed something to fill in the new shape of my brows where the hairs are still growing in. I have been using and loving Soap & Glory’s Brow Archery Pencil, but I needed some powder too for some extra help. So I reclaimed this palette from the back of a makeup drawer and the rest is history. I only really use the bottom two colours, “Warm Brown” to the left and “Ash Brown” to the right. I find combing them makes a good shade for me as I have red tones in my hair, but am not a fully fledged red head. However the other two shades on the top of the palette “Nude” and “Carbon” come in handy as do the other two shades I use on my brows, when you are in a pinch as they make great eye shadows. So it’s a multi functional palette. Happy days 🙂

There we have it, November faves done and dusted. I’m sure our December faves will be a flurry of new things we are dying to share with you. Have you had any stand out favourites this month? Be sure to let me know

As always, thanks for reading.

Gemma

xxx

December 2, 2014/by Gem

Posts

Overall, I am a big fan of the LA Girl Pro Matte Foundation. It has made it’s way into my everyday foundation rotation. Yes I have one of those 🙂 You can find it now in store from LA Girl stockists. Online from TRNDbeauty, and Beauty Bay. Have you picked it up yet?

xxx

**********PR SAMPLE**********

I picked up the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation after seeing so many good things about it online.

Here is my skin with just primer on it:

Here it is with one layer of the Catrice HD Liquid Coverage Foundation applied with a Real Techniques Miracle Sculpting Sponge (which I have a review of here).

Then, with another layer of foundation applied in the same way:

Here’s my first ever Youtube video! It’s a speeded through Get Ready With Me. I love zoning out and watching these, and on the plus side it meant less talking for me 🙂 It’s not perfect, but sure neither am I.

I already delved into all the skincare goodies I’m bringing for our Christmas trip away here I thought it was only natural to show what will make it into my holiday makeup bag. I say a bag, lets be honest I’m bringing a couple of bags I’m not gonna lie 🙂

PR SAMPLE